High Frequency Training
Training frequency is a hotly debated topic.
Some “experts” say you should demolish every muscle once per week, blitzing the body part split. Others say focus on an upper-lower or total body split because training major movement patterns more frequently will stimulate faster gains in strength and size.
I’m with the latter. Here’s why.
Frequency of training, the number of sessions performed per unit of time, is the most important training variable for building size, strength, and skill mastery for beginners. For those looking to gain muscle and strength frequent training is the premier and logical choice for the fastest gains. Unfortunately, most people still follow bodybuilding body-part split routines popularized in every fitness magazine over the last three decades. These routines aren’t ideal for anyone except high-level bodybuilders.
Consider the following examples:
If you’re learning a new language is it best to study for five hours one day per week, or 45 minutes seven days per week?
Would you be stronger performing squats in 52 workouts per year or 104?
I would go with 45 minutes per day, seven days per week and 104 workouts without a doubt.
But Why?
Consistent exposure to stimuli is vital for learning new things and movement patterns.
The Research
In 2000 the study Comparison of 1 Day and 3 Days Per Week of Equal-Volume Resistance Training in Experienced Subjects 25 experienced participants were randomly separated into training groups. Group one performed one day per week of strength training with three sets to failure, with rep ranges moving from three to ten reps per set. Group two performed workouts three days per week with one set to failure per day, while working in the same rep ranges. Volume was kept the exact same, yet group two had greater increases in both lean body mass and improved one-rep max strength.
With total volume held constant, spreading the training frequency to three doses per week produced superior results in both strength and muscular hypertrophy.
In a 1997 study titled Isometric torso rotation strength: effect of training frequency on its development 33 men and 25 women were tested for rotational strength before and after 12 weeks of training. Groups were split into training groups that exercises one, two, or three times per week. Although there were not major differences between groups training two or three times per week, strength was significantly increased compared to the one time per week training group.
Once again, a higher frequency than one time per week was shown to improve strength gains.
In a 2010 study titled Anabolic processes in human skeletal muscle: restoring the identities of growth Hormone and Testosterone it was found that repeated phases of net protein balance, which can be generated response to repeated bouts of resistance exercise and protein ingestion, underpins muscle hypertrophy.
This indicates that frequent exposure to training increases protein synthesis at the cellular level, leading to greater amounts of muscle growth.
For Muscle and Strength
Full body workouts are the premier and logical choice for beginners. The more muscle you stimulate frequently the more muscle and strength you’ll build, with three or four workouts per week being plenty.
To set up your own full-body workout start with a dynamic warm-up to activate muscles, lubricate joints, and prepare the body for activity. Before hitting the weights start with some box jumps or medicine ball slams to fire up the central nervous system to lift more weight. Two or three sets of three to five reps should be plenty. Pick an upper body push, an upper body pull and a compound lower body exercise.
This includes: squats, lunges, deadlifts, bench presses, push-ups, chin-ups, rows, cleans, overhead presses, and glute bridges..
Stick with four or five sets of two to eight reps with one or two minutes of rest between sets. Multi-joint exercises should be practiced frequently and mastered for both safety and results. Plan ten minutes (yes, only ten) at the end of your workout of free time to do things you want to do, whether it’s abs, biceps curls, or somersaults across the floor. Have fun and enjoy yourself. I highly recommend a qualified coach to get you off on the right foot.
If you’ve been training for a solid year while making significant strength gains you can get more creative.
I recommend intermediates move to an upper-lower split, with halves of the body being hit at least 48 hours apart. Pick two presses and two or three pulling exercises performed in alternative sets on upper body days. Always train strength first and add weight to the bar, but feel free to add in some higher rep work to build those “pretty bumps.” According to The Mechanisms of Hypertrophy and Their Application to Resistance Training.” Chasing the pump is alright in this case, as the accumulation of metabolites from exercise requires the use of anaerobic glycolysis resulting in the buildup of lactate, hydrogen ions, create, and other metabolites.
This metabolic stress leads to greater muscle fiber damage, furthering the need for repair and nutrient shuttling to the source of damage.
Lower body workouts should be at least 48 hours apart as well, with 72 being ideal for maximum recovery. Just like the upper body workouts train strength first and add weight to the bar, but feel free to add in some higher rep work to stimulate the metabolic environment to promote further muscle growth.
Here’s a sample lower body day: 1×10/each
- Walking knee hug
- Cradle walk
- Straight leg march
- Dynamic quad stretch
- Forward lunge
- Reverse lunge w/reach
- Spiderman’s
- Sub-Scap Push-Ups
- Body Weight Squats
- Box Jump 3×3
- 1.Front Squat 5×5
- 2a.Romainan Deadlift 4×8
- 2b. Side plank 4×30 seconds
- 3a. Bulgarian Split Squat 3×12-15
- 3b. Hanging leg raises 3×10-15
- 4. Free time/ intervals/ Pretty bumps
*Note if you’re a competitive athlete this isn’t a program for you. You’ll need more specialization and movement included early in the session.
Routines that train movements or muscles only one time per week are not optimal for high-performance strength development, especially for beginners. I recommend training each movement pattern at least twice per week for the best gains in strength, muscle, and performance.
For Athletes and Skill Mastery
“Practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.” –Vince Lombardi
For learning a new movement or athletic skill the more frequently you practice any skill the more grooved it becomes in the body, eventually leading to unconscious competence—being able to perform a skill correctly without conscious thought.
Movement skill development must be grooved correctly until it becomes automatic and follows the following continuum. (Landow, 2013)
- Unconscious Incompetence: Athlete looks clueless, unable to comprehend what is needed.
- Conscious Incompetence: Athlete understands what’s needed, unable to produce it.
- Conscious Incompetence: Athlete can reproduce with much needed concentration, but not in series.
- Unconscious Competence: Automatic near perfection execution without thought.
Wrap Up
The process of perfecting a skill, whether it’s shooting free throws or lifting technique, takes much practice. Total body and upper-lower training splits provide higher frequency training to the best bang for your buck options—multi-joint lifts. Put the leg extensions and seven variations of biceps curls on the backburner and get back to what’s essential.
In pursuit of strong, shredded, athletic
-Eric
Author: Eric Bach
Eric Bach, BS- Kinesiology, CSCS, and PN1 is a sought after trainer in Denver, Colorado. Eric coaches at the renowned Steadman Hawkins Sports Performance and runs Bach Performance, an online coaching community and blog. Eric works relentless to fine tune the best methods helping clients get strong, shredded, and athletic. Please contact Eric at http://bachperformance.com, Facebook or Twitter for all inquiries and consultations.
Resources:
- McLester, J., Bishop, E., & Guilliams, M. (2000). Comparison of 1 day and 3 days per week of equal-volume resistance training in experienced subjects. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 14(3). Retrieved from http://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Abstract/2000/08000/Comparison_of_1_Day_and_3_Days_Per_Week_of.6.aspx
- DeMichele, P. L., Pollock, M. L., Graves, J. E., Foster, D. N., Carpenter, D., Garzarella, L., Brechue, W., & Fulton, M. (1997). Isometric torso rotation strength: effect of training frequency on its development. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 78(1), 64-69. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9014960
- Landow, L. (2013, August). In Loren Landow (Chair). Train to win. Steadman Hawkins Sports Performance Train to win performance mentorship, Denver, Colorado.
- Phillips, S., & West, D. (2010). Anabolic processes in human skeletal muscle: restoring the identities of growth hormone and testosterone. Physican and Sportsmedicine, 38(3), 97-104. doi: 10.3810/psm.2010.10.1814
- Schoenfeld, Brad. “The Mechanisms of Hypertrophy and Their Application to Resistance Training.” Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 24.10 (2010): 2857. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.
